Ananas plant named Duranas3

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ananas  cultivar named ‘Duranas3’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact plant size, greyed-purple to brown foliage, strongly reflexed foliage, dark red fruit, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ananas disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘Duranas3’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2015/0609, filed Mar. 17, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Ananas comosus, ornamental pineapple. Ananas comosus is often planted for its tropical appearance and for its horticultural novelty. Its market class is PLT/156.

Parentage: The Ananas comosus variety ‘Duranas3’ is the result of a controlled pollination breeding program carried out in March of 2007 at a commercial greenhouse in Palmares, Costa Rica. ‘Duranas3’ is a progeny of said breeding program which resulted from the cross pollination of a Ananas comosus female breeding line, identified by the breeding code “03#12”, and a Ananas comosus male breeding line, identified by the breeding code “16#1”. Both of breeding lines were developed and owned by the inventor and were never commercially released. Progeny of said cross were observed for desired commercial characteristics and, in June of 2009, ‘Duranas3’ was selected for its compact inflorescence and dark red fruit.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘Duranas3’ was first asexually propagated by mericloning in June 2009 at a laboratory in Sleidinge, Belgium and has since been asexually propagated through eight additional generation. Through subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Ananas cultivar, ‘Duranas3’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘Duranas3’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘Duranas3’ exhibits a small, compact plant size; and     -   2. ‘Duranas3’ exhibits greyed-purple to brown foliage; and     -   3. ‘Duranas3’ exhibits strongly reflexed foliage; and     -   4. ‘Duranas3’ exhibits dark red fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘Duranas3’ grown at a commercial greenhouse in Bergschenhoek, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 20 months old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘Duranas3’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of ‘Duranas3’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical fruit of ‘Duranas3’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements made in September of 2015 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 20 month-old ‘Duranas3’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery pots at a commercial greenhouse in Bergschenhoek, The Netherlands. Plants were grown under light maximum light levels of approximately 10,000 lux. Plants were maintained with a weekly fertigation program and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No chemical pest measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Duranas3’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Duranas3’ and comparisons with other varieties of Ananas comosus are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial; monopodial. Leaves arranged in a             basal rosette and the inflorescence grows from the center of             the basal rosette.         -   Average height.—Average of 21.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 59.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.         -   Propagation type.—Mericloning.         -   Disease resistance or tolerance.—Similar to other Ananas             comosus varieties.         -   Pest resistance or tolerance.—Similar to other Ananas             comosus varieties.         -   Temperature tolerances.—USDA Zones 10 to 12; at least             tolerant of temperatures to 40 degrees Celsius. -   Root system: Typical of the species. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette; one mature basal rosette and one             immature basal rosette. No stems or lateral branches, the             leaves form a stem-like structure not consisting of a stem             as such, but only consisting of the leaf sheaths.         -   Quantity of leaves.—Approximately 31 leaves per rosette.         -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Very high.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 38.1 cm long, excluding the sheath, and             2.2 cm wide. Thickness — Approximately 0.9 cm. Shape of             blade — Ligulate. Aspect — Leaves held at an angle of             approximately 45 degrees from horizontal and strongly             reflexed (with the leaf apex pointing at an approximate             angle of minus−90 degrees from horizontal). Apex —             Acuminate. Base — Sheathing. Margin — Entire and slightly             undulated towards the apex. Pubescence, texture and luster             of adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth and moderately glossy.             Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface —             Glabrous, smooth and matte. Color — Juvenile foliage,             adaxial surface — Brown, RHS 200A, and covered with a waxy             layer that is colored black, RHS 202C to 202D. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Brown, RHS 200B, and covered with             a waxy layer that is colored greyed-purple to black, in             between RHS N187D and 202D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface             — Greyed-purple to brown, in between N186C and 200A yet             closest to 200A, and margined yellow-green, approximating to             darker-than RHS 147A; the surface is covered with a waxy             layer that is colored greyed-purple to black, in between RHS             N187D and 202D. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, RHS 152A, and covered with a waxy layer that             is colored greyed-purple to black, in between RHS N187D and             202D. Venation — Parallel. Mature foliage venation, adaxial             surface — Same color as foliage; greyed-purple to brown, in             between N186C and 200A yet closest to 200A, and margined             yellow-green, approximating to darker-than RHS 147A. Mature             foliage venation, abaxial surface — Same color as foliage;             yellow-green, RHS 152A. Sheath — Sheath length — Average             3.4 cm. Sheath width — Average 3.4 cm. Sheath color, adaxial             and abaxial surfaces — Yellow-green, RHS N148D, and margined             with greyed-orange, RHS 166C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Spike inflorescence arising from             the center of the foliage rosette; lowest flowers opening             first.         -   Flowering habit.—Once a year, continuously.         -   Natural flowering season.—Summer into late summer.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 10 months.         -   Inflorescence quantity.—One.         -   Flowers per inflorescence.—Average of 38.         -   Inflorescence height.—Average of 7.8 cm, excluding the             peduncle.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average of 5.4 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Approximately 12.9 cm long, to the             base of the inflorescence, and 1.2 cm wide. Aspect —             Approximately 90-degree angle to horizontal. Strength — Very             strong. Color — Yellow-green to brown, in between 147A and             200A yet closest to 200A, and covered with a waxy layer that             is colored greyed-purple to black, in between RHS N187D and             202D.         -   Pedunculate leaves.—Quantity — Average of 4. Dimensions —             Average length is 8.2 cm and the average width is 0.7 cm.             Apex — Long acuminate. Base — Sheathing Margins — Entire.             Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-purple to brown, in between             N186C and 200A yet closest to 200A, and margined             yellow-green, approximating to darker-than RHS 147A; the             surface is covered with a waxy layer that is colored             greyed-purple to black, in between RHS N187D and 202D.             Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 152A, and covered             with a waxy layer that is colored greyed-purple to black, in             between RHS N187D and 202D. Sheath color, both surfaces —             Red, RHS N45D.         -   Crown.—General — Inflorescence is terminated with a cluster             of small leaves, typical of the species. Quantity of leaves             — 32. Leaves of the crown — Shape — Narrow deltoid.             Dimensions — Average length is 3.5 cm; average width is             0.8 cm. Apex — Acuminate. Base — Sheathing. Margins —             Entire. Color, both surfaces — Brown, RHS 200D, and covered             with a waxy layer that is colored greyed-purple to black, in             between RHS N187D and 202D. Sheath — Dimensions — Average             length is 1.0 cm, and the average width is 1.5 cm. Color,             both surfaces — Yellow-green, RHS 145A. -   Bud:     -   -   Length.—Average of 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 0.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrow triangular.         -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous and slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Violet. RHS 83D. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower type and form.—Single; tubular.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Average of 0.5 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness.—2 days.         -   Persistent.—Persistent.         -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 3. Arrangement — Rotate; single             whorl of unfused petals. Length — Approximately 1.4 cm.             Width — Approximately 0.35 cm. Shape — Oblanceolate. Apex —             Acute. Margin — Entire. Pubescence, texture and luster —             Glabrous, moderately velvety, and matte. Color when opening,             upper surface — Violet, RHS N88B to N88C, and becoming             white, RHS 155C, towards the base. Color when opening, lower             surface — Violet, RHS N88C, and becoming white, RHS 155C,             towards the base. Color when fully opened, upper surface —             Violet, RHS N88C, and becoming white, RHS 155C, towards the             base. Color when fully opened, lower surface — Violet, RHS             N88C, and becoming white, RHS 155C, towards the base.             Fading, upper surface — Not fading. Fading, lower surface —             Not fading. Venation color, fully opened, upper surface —             Greyed-orange, RHS 165B. Venation color, fully opened, lower             surface — Greyed-orange, RHS 165B.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — Average of 0.6 cm. Diameter             — Average of 0.8 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity — Three. Arrangement — Rotate. Length —             Average of 0.6 cm. Width — Average of 0.5 cm. Shape —             Deltoid. Apex — Acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire.             Pubescence, texture and luster — Glabrous and glossy.             Immature color, upper surface — Red, RHS 53B. Immature             color, lower surface — Red, RHS 53B; base is yellow-green,             RHS 144C to 144D. Mature color, upper surface — Red, RHS             53B. Mature color, lower surface — Red, RHS 53B; base is             yellow-green, RHS 144C to 144D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Six, on average. Anthers — Shape —             Basifixed; narrow sagittate. Length — 0.2 cm, on average.             Color — Greyed-yellow, RHS 160D. Filaments — Length — 1.0             cm, on average. Color — White, RHS NN155C. Pollen —             Abundance — Low. Color — Yellow, RHS 11D.         -   Pistil.—Quantity — One, on average. Length — 1.3 cm. Style —             Length — 1.2 cm. Color — White, RHS NN155C. Stigma — Shape —             Three-lobed. Color — White, RHS NN155C. Ovary Color —             Yellow-green, RHS 150D. -   Fruit and seed:     -   -   Fruit.—General — A syncarp which is comprised of multiple of             berries, coalescing as they mature, to form the fleshy             “pineapple”. Quantity of berries — Approximately 38 per             inflorescence. Shape of berries — Hexagonal; typical for             Ananas comosus. Dimension of berries — Average length is 0.5             cm; average width is 1.2 cm. Pubescence and luster —             Glabrous and glossy. Color of berries — Greyed-purple, RHS             187A to 187B. Time to ripening of fruit — Two weeks, on             average. Fruit taste — Tasteless; not suitable for             consumption.         -   Seed.—Not present.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

The breeding line parents of ‘Duranas3’ were never commercialized and are no longer in cultivation. Therefore, a comparison of ‘Duranas3’ with its parents is unavailable.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR ANANAS CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

‘Duranas3’ is similar in many horticultural characteristics to the commercial cultivar Ananas ‘Duranas2’ (Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2012/2017). However ‘Duranas3’ differs from ‘Duranas2’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The fruit of ‘Duranas3’ exhibits a dark red general tonality,         whereas the fruit of ‘Duranas2’ exhibits a yellow general         tonality.     -   2. ‘Duranas3’ exhibits a small and compact plant size, whereas         ‘Duranas2’ exhibits a larger and less compact plant size. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ananas plant named ‘Duranas3’, as described and illustrated herein. 